You might be wondering how to get rid of bags under the eyes without surgery? Not to worry, this article reveals 17 things to reduce a saggy look.
As the famous saying goes, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but what if it has bags underneath? Then what? Nothing really; health-wise, eye bags are usually not a cause for concern. However, they can chip away at your confidence with each glance at the mirror. But there are ways to get rid of them. The best bit is, Eye creams aren’t the only way to combat eye bags.
What are eye bags?
Eye bags are mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes. They show up when the skin under your eye is weakened, thus leading to a sag that relaxes and creates a pouch. The fat tissues under the eyes then slip down and fill the pocket, making the appearance of a bag.
Are eye bags the same as dark circles?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but eye bags and dark circles aren’t the same. Dark circles are characterized by darkened skin underneath both eyes. Although eye bags often accompany dark circles and vice versa, they are two different things.
Causes of eye bags
Eye bags result from numerous things such as aging, poor lifestyle, and the occasional body reaction. Below are a few causes of eye bags.
1. Medical condition
Sometimes eye bags show up due to underlying health issues like Graves’ disease (thyroid eye disease) or sinus dysfunction. So check with your health professional to make sure everything is A-OK. Though, if your eye bags result from underlying health problems, they’d be accompanied by other symptoms. So if it’s the eye bags alone, it’s safe to say it’s not from an underlying health issue, but still, check to be sure.
2. Genetics
Under-eye puffiness could be a result of genetics. Check your family line; if this is something everybody or almost everybody has, it’s genetic.
3. Aging
As you grow older, your skin tissues and muscles get weaker and thus more prone to sagging. Your eyelids are no exemption. Your weakened tissues and muscles supporting your eyelids lead to the sinking of the fat that’s usually around your eye, creating the appearance of a bag.
4. High-salt diet
A high salt intake causes the body to retain water, osmosis, and all that—movement of solute of water from a region of higher concentration to an area of lower water concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. Thus, when there’s a higher salt concentration in the body, the body tries to attain equilibrium by retaining water (that explains why you’re thirsty after a salty snack).
Alcohol intake and dehydration can also exacerbate your body’s tendency to retain water. Water retention leads to swelling, and your eyelids swell (together with your feet, legs, and hands). Thanks to this swelling, eye bags are born.
5. Allergies
Funny enough, allergies are your body’s way of fighting off unwanted visitors; surprised, huh? For people with allergies, their immune system mark allergens (dust, smoke, pollen, etc.) as harmful substances.
So when allergens come into the body, the body releases mast cells (part of the body’s protective cells) to combat them. This might lead to swollen sinuses and itchy and watery eyes, leading to eye bags.
There are other causes of eye bags, such as:
- Smoking (cigarettes, shisha, or cigars).
- Eye injury.
- Eye infections like pink eye, Periorbital cellulitis, style, etc.
- Blocked tear duct
- Increased stress levels
- Crying, etc.
So I promise that having eye bags isn’t the end of the world, and you don’t look hideous with them. There are ways to improve their look and even eliminate them (a little pricey). However, it’s also excellent if you realize you’re still just as pretty, even with the saggy bags.
Without further ado, here are:
How to get rid of bags under the eyes without surgery—17 fantastic tips to help you
1. Reduce your salt intake
This should be a no-brainer, seeing as a high intake of salt is one of the causes of eye bags. In general, a healthy diet equals a healthy body, and if you don’t know where to start, here are the ten best Carla Hall recipes for healthy eating.
2. Quit smoking
Another no-brainer, if you smoke, that is. Smoking reduces your body’s Vitamin C storage, a vital vitamin for making healthy collagen in your skin. Collagen makes your skin firm and plump; without it, your skin will sag and develop wrinkles, eye bags, etc. Smoking has other adverse effects such as increased chances of developing diabetes, certain cancers, ruined lungs, stained blood teeth, shortened lifespan, etc.
Of course, quitting smoking can be extremely difficult, especially when dealing with the nicotine withdrawal symptoms the first couple of weeks after quitting. But it is doable, especially if you have the proper knowledge and help with quitting smoking.
3. Eat more collagen-rich foods to get rid of bags under the eyes
As you grow older, your body starts making less collagen naturally and needs a boost from an outside source. Less collagen equals weaker muscles and tissues, which leads to sagging and wrinkles. Foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids help collagen production by increasing the level of hyaluronic acid in your body.
Foods rich in Vitamin C are Orange and orange juice, tomato, Potato, Brussel sprouts, pineapple, red and green pepper, etc. Also, include foods rich in amino acids: quinoa, turkey, fish, mushrooms, legumes like beans, cottage cheese, etc.
4. Have a good sleep pattern
How to get rid of bags under the eyes by sleeping? Having anything less than 6-8 hours of sound sleep is considered a wrong sleep pattern. Lack of sleep can trigger puffiness under your eyes until you rectify your sleep pattern. So get into your most comfortable pajamas or invest in these soft, silk pajamas and see yourself off to the land of the snoozers.
4. Take antihistamines
Antihistamines help with allergies, thus reducing the possibility of puffy eyes.
5. Drink lots and lots of water to reduce eye bags
Besides increased salt intake, your body will also retain fluid due to dehydration. Stay hydrated, your body won’t keep water, and your saggy eyes disappear.
6. How to get rid of bags under the eyes using a cold compress
Applying something cold around the puffy area can help your blood vessels constrict quicker, giving you a temporary fix. You can use a chilled teaspoon, a bag of frozen vegetables, or ice cubes wrapped in a clean washcloth. Apply the cold compress for about 10 minutes in the morning and night for great results.
7. Use cold potato slices
Potatoes have astringent properties which help reduce inflammation, thereby tightening the skin. Cut the potato into thin pieces and refrigerate. Apply it to the eye bags for 10 minutes, then wash your face with warm water.
8. Eye massager helps to get rid of bags under the eyes
Regular eye massages help promote blood flow around the eye and prevent blood from pooling in the capillaries under the eye. Massaging your eye area also helps disperse fluid retention. Olay Eyes Depuffing Eye Roller for bags under the eyes makes a perfect massage tool to get your saggy under eyes back to shape.
While it comes with its serum, you could also opt for other fast-working eye serums like CeraVe Eye Repair Cream | Under Eye or Anti-Aging Rapid Reduction Eye Cream, Visibly and Instantly Reduces Wrinkles. On a cleanly washed face, apply the eye serum to the skin around your eye. Gently sweep the rollers around your eye, starting from the inner corners and then working your way through your entire eye area.
9. Cold milk
Milk has retinol, which keeps the skin looking bright and young. And you already know cold things help constrict your blood vessels quicker. So cold milk on your eye bags is a double whammy solution.
Soak a small piece of a cotton pad in a bowl of cold milk. Use the cotton pad to apply the cold milk to your under-eye bags and let it stay on for 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Do this twice daily till you’re satisfied with your results.
10. How to get rid of bags under the eyes using cold tea bags?
Green teas mainly have antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the strained capillaries underneath your eyes. Put the teabags in a small bowl of water and keep them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Bring them out and apply them to your eyes; leave them there for 10 minutes before removing them. Wash your face with warm water. Repeat the process twice a day for maximum effect.
11. Eye masks
Eye masks benefit from directly infusing all the good ingredients to boost circulation and plump your eye right into your puffy under-eye. PURE Bright Eyes Masks Under Eye Skincare Wrinkle Smoothing masks will hydrate your skin and increase brightness while improving circulation and de-puffing your eye. All things needed to combat eye bags.
Clean your face, and then apply the eye mask to your under-eye area. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before throwing it away. Pat in the extra moisture left behind in your skin.
12. Add retinol cream to your routine
Retinol is related to vitamin A and helps with the production of collagen, which helps tighten your skin, giving it a firmer and younger look.
13. How to get rid of bags under the eyes using a chemical peel?
A chemical peel can treat under-eye bags by removing the wrinkly top layers to reveal a tighter and brighter skin. However, it could mess up your face, especially for black skin, if not done right. Here’s a guide explaining a chemical peel procedure, what to expect, and helpful tips.
14. Laser resurfacing
You can use a laser resurfacing procedure to remove the superficial layer of wrinkly skin in the under-eye area. In addition, it stimulates collagen production resulting in firmer skin. The resulting look can last for years, depending on your skin type and exposure to the sun.
15. Eye filler
A filler material, usually hyaluronic acid, is injected into the area under your eye. Check out this more detailed article on under-eye filler and what to expect from it.
16. Use eye serums to get rid of bags under the eyes
Eye creams such as Plexaderm Rapid Reduction Eye Serum are packed with hydrating ingredients that resolve under-eye bags issues. Collect a pea-sized amount on your fingertips. Gently apply your serum to the affected area using upward and outward strokes. Don’t wash it off; allow the product fully dry and watch as your eyes de-puff.
17. And, of course, there’s the option of surgery (How to get rid of bags under the eyes with surgery)
It’s a lower eyelid lid (blepharoplasty) procedure where the surgeon readjusts the fat in the lower eye area and tightens the skin and muscle in that area too. This method usually gets rid of eye bags permanently. Future touchups are generally rare.
Conclusion
There you have it, 17 ways to plump up the saggy pouch beneath your eyes fondly referred to as eye bags. Eye bags really shouldn’t be a cause for concern unless, of course, it’s tied to an underlying illness. You can say goodbye to eye bags under the eyes with these tips. Stay beautiful!
You may also like to read:
–14 Best Skincare Routine For All Skin Types
–The 15 Best Skincare Face Washes And Cleansers Of 2022
–Best face moisturizers for maximum hydration
